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Summary TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) machines sometime relieves muscle pain by inducing relaxation. This is the most common form of electrical stimulation used for pain management. Applying brief pulses of electricity to nerve endings under the skin, the procedure called transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation may yield excellent pain relief in some chronic pain patients. The electricity from the electrodes stimulates nerves in the affected area and sends signals to the brain that "scramble" normal pain perception. TENS is not painful and has proven to be an effective therapy to mask pain. The stimulation works best when applied to the skin near where the pain is felt and where other sensibilities like touch or pressure have not been damaged. Both the frequency and voltage of the electrical stimulation are important in obtaining pain relief. Types of Pain Used For TENS provides short-term pain relief. Electrical nerve stimulation and electrothermal therapy are used to relieve pain associated with various conditions, including back pain. Intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET) is a treatment option for people with low back pain resulting from intervertebral disc problems. A TENS device is effective against the following types of short-term pain:
muscle and joint pain sports injuries menstrual cramps shingles (painful skin eruptions along the nerves) TENS doesn't cure any condition; it simply eases pain. How Safe is It? Because TENS may interfere with pacemaker function, patients with pacemakers should consult a cardiologist before using a TENS unit. Patients should also avoid electrical stimulation in the front of the neck, which can be hazardous. The safety of the device during pregnancy has not been established. Experts generally consider TENS to be safe, although the machine could cause harm if you misuse it. Have your physical therapist or doctor show you the proper way to use the machine, and follow these instructions carefully. Results You Can ExpectThe amount of relief a person gets using TENS depends on the underlying cause of the pain, a person's mental state, and whether or not medication is also used. At least one study found that both a real TENS machine and a placebo were equally effective in reducing pain. This suggests that at least part of its effectiveness may be due to the patient's belief in its ability to ease pain. How Often It's Used A 2003 study by Marketdata, of pain management programs, found that for ALL pain practitioners as a group, 33% used TENS therapy as a treatment method. When looking just at anesthesiologists, however, a significantly smaller percentage of them used physical therapy--only 8.3% in 2003 (down from 91% in 1997).
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